Lifestyle

Jonathan Kung (M.D.) Shares How Adopting Healthy Lifestyle Choices Can Lead To Sound Health And a More Balanced Life.

Published

5 years ago

August 5, 2020

A lot of health conditions developed by ailing patients are scenarios that could, otherwise, have been easily avoided with the adoption of specific lifestyle choices. According to Dr. Jonathan Kung, a Gastroenterologist, the adoption of these lifestyle choices does go a long way to improving the average person’s emotional and psychological life balance. He particularly emphasizes regular exercise as one of the most important of the number.

As a specialist in diagnosing and treating complicated digestive complications, the first-hand experience has taught him just how seemingly harmless habits could accumulate over time. Frequently, these habits evolve into life-threatening health challenges.

These and more are the reasons why Dr. Kung has devoted the last few years to help people become more deliberate about their lifestyle and general health habits. An advocate for balance in every sphere of an individual’s life, he discusses how he manages to keep a balanced state of health and mind, despite being a medical professional. He advises others to take a queue from them.

Regular Exercise:

For Jonathan, he likes to train like an athlete, hard and rigorous, whenever he can get away from work. His favorite sports include boxing, basketball, and soccer and has become commonplace for him to be found training on the soccer field or at the boxing gym where he practices a series of combinations on the heavy bag.

On one occasion, he said, “My career has helped open my eyes to the importance of health and wellness,” said Jonathan. “I’ve seen countless patients who have struggled with their health over the years, so I don’t wish to take my health for granted anymore. That is why I make it a habit to go to the gym or field whenever I get a break from the hospital. This habit keeps me balanced and focused on my personal goals in life.”

Scheduled Recreation and Rest:

It is also imperative to understand that everyone has a unique solution to achieving happiness and fulfillment; however, they often need to do some self-exploration and find what it is. As a result, he also advocates for people to take time out to do what they enjoy doing and rest.

He acknowledges that it is possible that what helped him achieve a personal balance may not do the same for other people.

Some have heard him say, “I simply share my experiences with people so that they can get some ideas on what they might need to do to change their lives.” Some of these could be walking outside, riding a bicycle, or altogether pursuing interests that they never tried doing before. Whatever it is, they should find this out and maximize it to the fullest.

Jonathan Kung shares his experiences with other people utilizing his social media platforms (Facebook and Instagram) to connect with groups of people from around the world who suffer from stress and other personal hardships.

Jonathan is most active on his Instagram channel @jonny_kay where he looks forward to continuing to connect with people throughout the world including live sessions and pro-bono health tips.

Lifestyle

The Future of Social Dancing: How Latin Dance is Adapting to a New Generation

Published

6 days ago

August 21, 2025

Michelle Langton

Latin dance thrives on connection. The music, the partner, and the crowd all feed one another.

Today, that connection is shaped by a younger, digitally fluent generation, and few understand the shift better than Damian Guzman, founder of Bachata Sensual America (BSA). From prize-winning festivals to late-night socials, Guzman and BSA show how the scene is evolving without losing its roots.

Streaming steps, viral beats

A decade ago, beginners to Latin dance hunted for grainy DVD tutorials; now they unlock entire combinations on their phones. TikTok loops, YouTube shorts, and Instagram reels have compressed learning into snack-sized bursts.

Many of the artists signed on with Bachata Sensual America meet dancers where they scroll, posting slow-motion breakdowns and “follow-along” drills that rack up thousands of views. This approach addresses two key Gen Z demands: instant access and a clear path from screen to floor.

By allowing newcomers to practice at home before facing a packed room, the online channel lowers the fear barrier while seeding a desire for in-person connection.

Festivals as entry points, not finish lines

Digital discovery is only the first act. For many people, their real baptism happens at multi-day events where practice hours blur into sunrise socials.

BSA’s flagship Houston Bachata Sensual Festival returned on May 2^nd, 2025, with a follow-up week slated for Bachata Sensual Festival Chicago, September 4^th-9^th, 2025. Both weekends pair technique labs with mental-wellness talks and DJs specializing in bachata, mirroring the playlists in dancers’ earbuds.

That balance of skills and community is why independent reviewers named BSA one of the “Top Latin Dance Festivals in the United States” for 2025. Yet, for Damian, awards matter less than the message: a festival can feel world-class without pricing out college students. He keeps passes tiered, encourages volunteer shifts that offset costs, and prepares bootcamps for absolute beginners, ensuring the dance floor reflects the same diversity he sees online.

Teaching culture, not just choreography

Bachata’s recent boom owes much to its European reinvention. Damian experienced that surge firsthand while earning one of the first U.S. instructor certifications in the Bachata Sensual style. He returned determined to give American dancers the same blend of precision and musicality he had experienced abroad.

BSA classes devote equal time to connection cues, body mechanics, and the genre’s Dominican roots. That trifecta resonates with younger students who want authenticity, not just a viral dip.

“In class I tell people, ‘Technique is how you respect your partner; musicality is how you respect the song,’” Guzman said during a recent podcast. The line distills his mission: elevate standards while keeping the dance welcoming.

Building inclusive, mindful spaces

Generation Z brings new expectations around consent, identity, and mental health. BSA’s code of conduct spells out everything from appropriate touch to gender-neutral role selection. Security staff mediate conflicts quickly, and workshop leaders open sessions with grounding exercises to calm nerves. These actions might sound small, yet they remove friction that once pushed many newcomers away.

Damian argues that such policies go beyond ethics; they future-proof the scene. Normalizing role fluidity in Latin dance widens its talent pool and invites richer musical interpretations. By acknowledging anxiety and overstimulation — common concerns for digital natives — events can retain dancers who might otherwise retreat after their first crowded social.

Latin dance has never stood still, and its next evolution is already spinning under disco lights from Houston to Helsinki. With a phone in every pocket and a festival on every calendar, the gap between discovery and mastery keeps shrinking.

Damian Guzman and Bachata Sensual America illustrate what happens when tradition listens, adapts, and leads with purpose. The result is a scene ready for whatever beat the next generation drops — and a future where social dancing feels more connected, inclusive, and alive than ever.